So heavier by 4 oz with the lightest pegs but with fewer features like the outer pitch first of the fly (where the inner goes up with the outer in one complete motion), the dual doors and dual vestibules, and the option of a partial solid inner. Apart being the equivalent of a fart lighter, there are no benefits over the Notch.

>> So heavier by 4 oz with the lightest pegs but with fewer features like the outer pitch first of the fly (where the inner goes up with the outer in one complete motion), the dual doors and dual vestibules, and the option of a partial solid inner. Apart being the equivalent of a fart lighter, there are no benefits over the Notch. <<

One feature that was not mentioned and should have been, is that the Notch uses two trekking poles for setup. This yields an incredible amount overhead space that the GC won't have with a single pole setup. It's one of my pet peeves with the tent manufacturers... they should show the cross-cut end dimensions on their drawings of their tents, not just the area of the floor. I have used single pole setups before and there is not much overhead space. I don't own a Notch but it is on my "to purchase" list.

@the other jack Elliot ... No. You CAN use four poles and an optional "porch" they sell to create an awning on either side to sit under outside of the tent. I have never tried this, but I have and use the optional CF poles that are 1.8 oz. each. So I could set up this way with only 2 trekking poles.

it is. if I was going to switch from the hexamid to something else, this would likely be what drives me to it. entry hasn't been a problem, but it seems like I have yet to exit without rubbing against the top of the doorway. No fun when it's covered in dew or wet from rain.

To tell the truth, I resent having to sleep under/inside any shelter. I started backpacking in the early '70s in SoCal and did most of my hiking there. The weather tends to be mild, the chance of rain low outside the rainy ("mudslide") season so I almost always was able to sleep under the stars.

The climate here in Central Oregon is more changeable, goes through much wider temperature swings; without warning it can switch from a calm, clear evening to an early-morning shower of rain. This happened to me on the second night of my recent seven-nighter in the Eagle Cap Wilderness, and thar I wuz, awakened by the spatter of raindrops on my down bag, getting up and banging up my Paratarp in the middle of the night, muttering.

Wind, below-freezing temps, unpredictable precipitation all resulted in my sleeping under the tarp from that night on.

I missed laying in bed, watching the stars on those moonless nights. The little sliver of sky I could see in the shelter opening showed the most spectacular skies I've ever seen.

Tom, it's probably what I'll end up doing, too. As you say, it's not perfect: looking through mesh ain't as good as looking through clear, dry 8,000 ft. elevation air, but ya gotta do what ya gotta do.

Jack,I just thought about the Lightheart Solo as a possibility.It has a very open format for the bug inner, and has what they call "stargazing mode" with the rain flaps open.I thought perhaps it might be of interest.http://www.lightheartgear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=15